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U.S. Drone Goes Down in Iran; Mom Inside War Zone; Russians Protest Election Results; Blago Sentencing; Mother of Dead Soldier Visits Iraq; Gingrich In The Driver's Seat?

Aired December 06, 2011 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Meantime, hello. I'm Brooke Baldwin. A busy, busy day here on this Tuesday. Top of the hour. Take a look at this.

After years of bullying, one teenage boy tells the world how he feels without saying a single word. This video is heart-wrenching, it's troubling and you're about to see it. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): He's a former governor, a reality show contestant and a poetry reader.

ROD BLAGOJEVICH (D), FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR: I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me.

BALDWIN: Now, very soon, the man now known as Blago learns his fate.

As Newt Gingrich climbs, just minutes from now, his biggest opponent gets a high-profile endorsement.

Plus, forget dot-com. Internet porn going dot-XXX, and it's forever changing how you surf the Web.

Also, a mom loses her son in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every night before I went to bed, I would come kiss him on the head, because that's my little boy.

BALDWIN: And to honor him, she goes to the war zone and retraces every single one of his steps. I will speak with her live.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: All right. Here we go, as I mentioned, top of the hour.

Couple of stories we're watching. First, new developments in the search for that missing drone in Iran. Also, as I mentioned a moment ago, how that payroll tax cut affects your paycheck. And Rod Blagojevich could soon be learning his fate.

Time to play "Reporter Roulette." I want to begin at the Pentagon with you, Chris Lawrence. We know CNN has learned that this unmanned drone is this classified plane for the CIA. How is the U.S. trying to get this back?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, U.S. officials say at the moment that it crashed, the U.S. really considered all potential options to get it back or to bomb it.

Retrieval would have ensued using some sort of ground team or proxy team on the ground to either get it airlifted it out or top haul it back over the border into Afghanistan. Bombing from the air is something that they routinely do when a drone goes down in Afghanistan or in the sort of the border area there in Pakistan. Both of those options were considered impractical to try to do in Iranian land.

BALDWIN: OK. So assuming the Iranians have this damaged, albeit intact RQ-170, what is the worst-case scenario here as the Pentagon sees it? What can Iran actually do with this piece or pieces of equipment?

LAWRENCE: By itself, Iran probably can't do all that much with it. They just don't have sort of the capabilities to reverse-engineer it to any great degree.

But some of the folks I have been talking to say the real danger is that the Iran is just going to give or sell this technology to Russia or much more likely China. China is a huge player espionage, getting technology from other sources.

And the danger is because this stealth technology is used not only in just the drone, but in bombers, in some manned fighter jet that if a country gets a good handle on how it works and what it does, it could then come up with defenses making it that much harder for American technology to be effective.

BALDWIN: Chris Lawrence from the Pentagon, Chris, thank you.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

BALDWIN: Next on "Reporter Roulette," let's go to Chicago to Ted Rowlands, where the former governor of Illinois will soon find out how much time he's going to be spending in prison. Rod Blagojevich tried to auction off, you remember it, the U.S. Senate seat vacated when Barack Obama became President Obama.

So, Ted Rowlands, what do you know? Has Blagojevich even spoken yet?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, he hasn't. We're awaiting that right now.

And his attorneys are arguing with the court for leniency. They are saying, listen, he didn't receive anything out of this. He's faced up to the convictions and he didn't really understand things. They said -- at one point they said -- quote -- "He had an incorrect understanding of the law."

We do expect Blagojevich, though, to take the stand here and talk to the court, talk directly to the judge and plead his case. He made a lot of speeches in his career. This one obviously is a big one and his freedom is at stake.

BALDWIN: Yes, pretty important for the former governor. Do we know, what is it that prosecution is asking for? What does Blagojevich face here?

ROWLANDS: They are asking for 15 to 20 years. The defense is asking for three years on the low end. Who knows where this judge is going to come in.

BALDWIN: OK, Ted Rowlands, keep us posted. Obviously, if Blagojevich speaks, we want to know what he ha to say there.

That's your "Reporter Roulette" for this Tuesday.

Still ahead, police called it a planned and calculated killing. A 7- year-old girl kidnapped, she's found dead, and right now fears are growing her killer lives in or has access to her tight-knit community. We're going to speak live with Erin Runnion, who knows this kind of pain all too well -- what parents, what children need to know next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The search now for a missing little girl has turned into a hunt for her killer. Police call the murder of seven 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera planned and calculated.

And her community just outside of Atlanta is absolutely terrified. Jorelys disappeared just this past Friday afternoon. She had just been in this, this fenced-in playground at her apartment complex, where she lived. This is Canton, Georgia. A massive search ended yesterday when little Jorelys' body was found dumped in a trash compactor.

What happened to this little girl was so horrific, authorities refused to list all of her injuries. So I want you to watch them describe really as much as they are willing to from a news conference that wrapped up just about three hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERNON KEENAN, GBI DIRECTOR:The victim died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head, that the victim had been stabbed and that the child had been sexually assaulted. There were also other injuries to the child which I'm not going to describe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Also terrifying, for Jorelys' neighbors, as I mentioned, police say that it appears the killer lives or works among them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEENAN: The investigators feel very strongly that the killer of the child resides in the apartment complex or has readily access to that apartment complex. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: As we follow that investigation in the hunt for the killer, I want to bring in Erin Runnion. She knows the horror of child abduction and murder all too well. Her little girl Samantha 5 years old when she was kidnapped from her front yard, sexually assaulted and brutally murdered. And Erin now works to prevent other children from becoming victims of predators.

So, Erin, my thanks to you. My heartfelt thanks for coming on.

And when you look at Samantha's story and you look at Jorelys' story, there are eerie similarities between the two. Both were playing outside of essentially their own turf. And it appears in both cases the killer either lived at, knew about, had access where these kids lived.

From your knowledge over the last couple of years, is that typical? What about this jumps out at you?

ERIN RUNNION, MOTHER OF MURDER VICTIM: Well, certainly the fact that she was playing in her community neighborhood park, that she was playing amongst her neighbors and everybody was always out there, and there's this sense of safety when we live in a community like that, in spite of the fact that there are registered sex offenders who live in that complex, who live nearby.

And so it comes back we have kind of a false sense of security as parents often when our children are outside playing with other kids. The reality is that a grownup needs to be out there watching whenever we can. This case is so painfully similar to Samantha's.

BALDWIN: To that point about these registered sex offenders, the police forward. They say they talked to them. They have checked them. They have cleared them, which says to me, parents, they have more to worry about if this sex offender lives nearby. It's the whole variable of the unknown. Who else is out there that you don't know, right?

RUNNION: Absolutely. Absolutely. It's estimated that fewer than 10 percent of all child molesters are ever accused, much less than caught and convicted of their crimes. The sad fact is that they are living amongst us.

And I think this Penn State and the others that are coming out recently kind of bring that to light. It's very often the most unlikely suspects who are the people who are looking for access, legitimate access to prey on children. And the thing that makes this so spooky is that he was clearly lying in wait.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Yes. They say it was very much so. It seems very calculated, premeditated.

RUNNION: Yes.

BALDWIN: Fine line for parents, you can't be them every single second, can't be with your kids every single second all the time.

You though started this foundation the Joyful Child Foundation. And you say the most common question you got from parents was, how do I teach my child how to be safe without frightening them? What is the answer?

RUNNION: Absolutely. Absolutely.

The answer is to teach them all about being safe every day. And part of that is personal safety when it comes to someone trying to hurt you or abduct you. The Joyful Child Foundation partnered with radKIDS in 2008. And we are a consultant to the Orange County Department of Education aiming to bring this awesome 10-hour safety education curriculum to children throughout their school day so it becomes part of their regular physical education curriculum, because really every child deserves to be taught how to recognize and escape from danger, whether it's a fire or a predator.

There's all kinds of dangers that children can taught how to be safe from.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. They absolutely so.

And since we have you and since you mentioned it, let's put the Web site up on the screen, your Web site. You can find it at thejoyfulchild.org.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: There you go, Erin Runnion. Thank you very much.

And obviously we will stay on top of Jorelys' story as well. Hopefully, they find this person soon.

RUNNION: Thank you for having me.

BALDWIN: Still and head, it looks like the Middle East, but this chaos is Russia -- protesters taking to the streets, furious over what they are calling fraud. Now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is making a huge demand.

Also, this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My first thought was just to get there. So I did that. And I got there against everybody's odds telling me, you don't need to be doing this. No one -- your son wouldn't want you there. Bull.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A soldier dies in Iraq, and his mother retraces his footsteps in the very war zone he lost his life. She's going to join me live. Wait until you hear what the military told her when she wanted to enlist. We're back in 90 seconds. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Angry protesters, hundreds of them jammed the streets of Moscow tonight. They are absolutely furious. And they're not accepting these official results from this past weekend's parliamentary elections.

Russian police say they had to lock up at least 250 people who rallied there in the streets of Moscow.

I want to take you there live and talk to CNN's Phil Black.

Phil, why are these protesters, why are they taking such exception to these parliamentary election results?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, ultimately, they believe that the results and the process was unfair. They believe that the whole electoral system, the way that it was carried out, the breaches of procedure that took place, there are even evidence of ballot stuffing, they think all of this was slanted in favor of United Russia, the party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev.

Yes, although United Russia took a big electoral hit, they suffered major losses, they lost significant representation in this country's lower house of parliament, they believe that the result is still undemocratic. And so while the party took a big hit, its opponents believe it should have suffered a much bigger one -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, she is now coming forth. She is absolutely demanding investigation of these election results. Let's hear what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We have serious concerns about the conduct of those discussions. Independent political parties, such as PARNAS, were denied the right to register. And the preliminary report by the OSCE cites election day attempts to stuff ballot boxes, manipulate voter lists, and other troubling practices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So given what our secretary of state said, also if we can look ahead to, Phil, next year's presidential election, if Putin is elected, does he really need a huge majority there?

BLACK: Well, he doesn't need a huge majority. Ultimately, all he does need is a majority. But certainly the bigger that majority, the greater the credibility that comes with it, and in particular in this case, too, because many people regarded this parliamentary vote as more than just an election for representatives within the lower house of parliament.

It was regarded by many as a referendum or a vote specifically on Vladimir Putin's intentions to return to the president early next year. And given the scale of the losses suffered by his party, it's being interpreted by some as a significant and embarrassing rejection of that ambition -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Phil Black for us in Moscow -- Phil, thank you.

Coming up next here, this emotional and heart-wrenching story. A teenage boy spills his soul without saying a single word. He does this on note cards. He is calling out his bully. It's all in a video that is getting a lot of attention online.

I know some of us were tweeting about this last night. You're going to see this. And find out why his candid confessions are sparking a lot of hate as well. Do not miss this. Back in 70 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now to this YouTube video of this 14-year-old boy in California. It's gone viral.

So in it, Jonah Mowry speaks no words, but his video says so, so much about the pain kids today endure from bullies. Stick with me. We're going to play just a portion of it. In total, the whole thing is four minutes. You're not going to hear anything, but just watch, because you will see plenty. Jonah's video has hit a nerve, drawing thousands upon thousands of comments, including from people who say his tears are fake.

Celeb blogger Perez Hilton responded to some of those critics.

Let me read what -- part of the statement we got from Perez -- quote -- "The pain in Jonah's eyes is real. I believe him. I have spoken to him. He's a very brave and special kid. His video has moved me to my core and touched people all over the world. That video will save lives. And, unfortunately, it also is soliciting a lot of hate, hate towards a 14-year-old boy. Those questioning his motives or insincerity are misguided and should focus their energy on something more positive, like being a voice against bullying" -- Perez Hilton.

Also just this month, we should point out Jonah made a second video showing these stories of bullying can in fact have a happy ending.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONAH MOWRY, 14 YEARS OLD: To the people who think that nobody likes me on -- almost my entire school loves me. I don't want to sound like stupid or conceited or anything.

PSS, thank you, everyone, who's being nice. I don't know why I said PSS, because only -- I didn't -- never mind.

Thank you for everyone who is being nice. And to the people who are being mean and calling me gay, thank you for stating the obvious. You could really be the next Einstein.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: Jonah, by the way, explained to reporters when he reported his first video, the portion of which she showed you, he had not at the time come out to his family yet.

Still ahead here, we are less than a month from the Iowa caucuses and Newt Gingrich is climbing up the state's polls. So Mitt Romney looking to take some of those headlines away from Newt Gingrich with a well- known endorsement, an endorsement he is getting right now. Jim Acosta is standing by for that live. We will talk to Jim next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Jim Acosta now joins me live with an America's Choice 2012 politics update.

And, Jim, a man who once held the second highest office in the land now endorsing Mitt Romney this hour. Tell us. Obviously, we're talking Dan Quayle.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right.

BALDWIN: What is the difference a Dan Quayle difference can make here?

ACOSTA: I think it's really just part of the narrative that the Romney campaign is trying to craft here in the last several weeks, trying to show that Mitt Romney as perhaps the inevitable nominee for the Republican Party, someone who has the Republican establishment lining up behind him.

Mitt Romney is not quite having the endorsement of the Bush family, but it's very close. And you will recall just last week Romney picked up the endorsement of Cuban American politicians in Miami, the week before that, two key U.S. senators, Kelly Ayotte being one of those two senators up in New Hampshire, which is obviously a key state for Republican voters.

I think that is part of what the Romney campaign is doing here, continuing that narrative that he's this inevitable front-runner lining up key endorsements every week.

BALDWIN: OK. As we talk about him being this front-runner, we do have to talk about these two new polls, right, that could spell a little bit of trouble for Mitt Romney in South Carolina, right?

ACOSTA: Yes. That's right, because, honestly -- and we were just talking about this a few moments ago -- you can see Paul Steinhauser, our deputy political director, right over my shoulder -- maybe it's the other shoulder.

(LAUGHTER)

ACOSTA: We were just talking about this, that perhaps it's time to call Newt Gingrich the front-runner in the Republican field.

There's a new "Washington Post" poll that has come out today in Iowa, among caucus-goers. Look at that, Newt Gingrich, up by 15 points. BALDWIN: Thirty-three percent.

ACOSTA: Thirty-three. It's just an amazing turnaround for Newt Gingrich.

And then you look at South Carolina, there's a poll coming out of South Carolina, which is obviously right after New Hampshire, which Mitt Romney is expected to win, In South Carolina, Newt Gingrich again ahead by 15 points over Mitt Romney.

And just in the last several minutes, "The New York Times" and CBS News poll came out. We don't have a graphic made for that, but I can just go over this with you, Brooke, 31 percent for Newt Gingrich in Iowa, trailed by Mitt Romney, 17 percent.

So we have a whole series of polls out now that basically show Newt Gingrich with a commanding lead over Mitt Romney in Iowa. So, I mean, you can just game this out in your mind right now. If he wins Iowa, maybe comes in a close second in New Hampshire, wins South Carolina -- and, by the way, there are other polls showing him in the lead in Florida -- Newt Gingrich, I don't want to say he's in the driver seat -- it's way too early -- but he's looking very good right now.

BALDWIN: So not calling it and saying he's in the driver's seat just yet, but front-runner, are we going to do it?

ACOSTA: He's in the passenger seat calling shotgun. Let's put it that way.

BALDWIN: All right.

ACOSTA: He is looking very good right now.

BALDWIN: Yes.

ACOSTA: And it's stunning, honestly, to look at all of these polls and see him out so much in front with this kind of commanding lead right now at a very critical time. There are not many days left. We're one month, four weeks from today till voting in Iowa.

BALDWIN: Twenty-five days, massive momentum. Jim Acosta, thanks to you. And thanks, Paul.

Still ahead, no segue here, so I'm just going to say it -- porn, specifically, Internet porn. Forget dot-com. Just a short time ago this content got a new home on the web, and it will forever change the way the Internet works, apparently.

Plus, this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE FORMAN, SINGLE AT 55: One of the guys that they set me up with took me to a Moroccan restaurant and ate raw meet in front of -- next to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Oh, man, oh, man, dating horror stories. That's nothing new. But these stories are coming from baby boomers. Find out how this particular generation is now looking for love. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: they don't feel old and they don't want to spend the rest of their years alone, but they definitely don't want to reenter the traditional dating scene of their younger years. So how are singles over the age of 50 supposed to meet new people? By using the Internet, of course. Here is Casey Wian on why baby boomers have embraced online dating.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne Forman is on a blind date with Todd Brodnick, (ph) who she's only met him on the phone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like I know you.

FORMAN: Yes, well there's still quite a bit to get to know.

WIAN: Like many unmarried baby boomers, Forman considers companionship more important in her 50s.

FORMAN: I can't believe I'm 55. I still feel like I'm 20 to 30 something. I still have that energy. I still feel like I have that spark. But I do have a lot of candles on my cake.

WIAN: Introductions through friends and relatives haven't worked.

FORMAN: They kept trying to set me up with friends of theirs, and each one was just worse than the next. I was a vegetarian and one of the guys they set me up with took me to a Moroccan restaurant and ate raw meet in front -- next to me.

WIAN: So Forman and a growing number of singles over 50 are going online to find potential matches.

FORMAN: It's like being in a candy store.

WIAN: Stacy Dansey is a 61-year-old real estate agent.

STACY DANSEY, DIVORCED AT 61: I couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life alone.

WIAN: After her marriage ended, Dansey's daughter-in-law made a suggestion.

DANSEY: She said you've got to get on one of those online dating Web sites. I said, I don't think so.

WIAN (on camera): What was your concern?

DANSEY: I've heard horror stories. WIAN (voice-over): Stalkers, scam artists, and worse. Online dating sites say because they collect background information on customers, it's actually a much safer way to meet people. Dansey's daughter persuaded her to join "Our Time," a dating site for baby boomers.

DANSEY: It's just a numbers game. The more people I meet, the greater my odds are that I'll meet a guy that wants to have like a loving, warm, committed, serious, monogamous relationship.

DR. GAIL SALTZ, OURTIME.COM: There's been a perfect storm of a growing number of baby boomers who are single with a growing number of baby boomers who are using the Internet and discovering that it's a way to be connected.

WIAN: A 2010 eHarmony survey found the Internet is now the most popular way for people over 50 to meet and marry.

DR. GIAN GONZAGA, EHARMONY.COM: I always felt the idea that the older generation is afraid of technology is overblown, because they do seem to adopt it, and now adopt it in numbers just as much as everybody else does.

WIAN: Vange Leclerc and divorcee Rob Foss met online in 2008.

ROB FOSS, ENGAGED AT 59: I had been married for so long, I kind of forgot the process.

VANGE LECLERC, ENGAGED AT 51: It was scary.

WIAN: Both like the idea of reading and viewing about potential dates before agreeing to meet.

LECLERC: I think it's less intimidating than going out there and trying to meet someone at a bar.

WIAN: Dating after 50 is different.

FOSS: We each have assets now. And when I was in my 20s I owned a stereo and a used car.

WIAN: But the results could be the same. Foss and McClaire are planning a Hawaiian wedding next year.

Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Since we're talking about the World Wide Web, there is a new Internet domain that will have plenty of people scrambling to erase the browser history. As of today the "xxx" domain is available for porn sites instead of the old dot-com. More than 100,000 sites are expected to go live today with the "xxx" at the end of the url. The theory here is that it will be harder for kids to stumble on to adult content by accident. And supporters say that the registry will make the sites safer from computer viruses.

Now this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANETTE WEST, MOTHER OF LT. KILE WEST: As we were arriving, I could feel the adrenaline rush, and the feel that I had of the sensation of it, it all went together and all clicked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Talk about a brave mother here. Here she is. A mom goes to Iraq as she tries to understand her son's death. What she learned about life. She joins me live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: This next story we wanted to share with, it really brings a whole new meaning to the term "motherly love." After nearly nine years in Iraq, most U.S. troops will be home by the end of this month. But Army First Lieutenant Kile West will not be among them. Why? Because he died four years ago in Iraq after an IED exploded near the vehicle, the Bradley he was riding in. His mother is Nanette. She says she lost her soul hearing when Kile was gone, but she got back her motivation and so much more by heading to the place that took her son's life, Iraq. Erin Cargile of our Texas affiliate KXAN sets up her story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEST: This flag was flying over fog Normandy when he died, and they sent it to me.

ERIN CARGILE, REPORTER, KXAN: It's the first thing you see when you walk into Nanette West's home.

WEST: This is my son's room.

CARGILE: Because the last place this mother wants to put her sons pictures and mementos is in a box.

WEST: Every time before I went to bed I kissed him on the head, because that's my little boy.

CARGILE: When her son Army First Lieutenant Kile West was killed on Memorial Day, 2007, trying to rescue soldiers from a downed helicopter in eastern Iraq, she thought there was only one way to understand it.

WEST: I wanted to see where he was. I wanted to see what he was doing, how he was living, what they were doing over there, how he died.

CARGILE: She tried to enlist in the army but was told she was too old, and then landed a job as a civilian contractor and was headed to Iraq 15 months after Kile's death.

WEST: My first goal was just to get there. So I did that. I got there against everybody's odds tell telling me, you don't need to do this. Your son wouldn't want you there. Bull. CARGILE: Nanette says fate put her right where she need to be, in a nearby camp close to her son's unit. For two-and-a-half years she helped support the troops with basic necessities like food and lodging and even hand-delivered care packages.

WEST: Even just that little piece was enough for me.

CARGILE: But this was the highlight of the trip, a ride in a Bradley, the fighting vehicle her son was riding in when he was killed by an IED.

WEST: We went through every piece of it, who sits where and what their job is. And I actually got firsthand knowledge of this Bradley which put everything into place of what my son was doing when he died. As we were riding, I could feel the adrenaline rush and the feel that I had of the sensation of it. It all went together, it all clicked. And that's just something I couldn't have done if I stayed here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Wow. And now Nanette West is good enough to join me live from Austin, Texas. Nanette, we heard about your story. I have never heard anything like this before. I think it's the epitome of bravely and also love clearly for your son. You said in the piece that your son's friends said, you don't need to go over there. What do you think Kile would have thought?

WEST: If he was alive, he probably would say no. But knowing where he is now and knowing that it would be a good thing for me to be there, I think he would OK. You can't be afraid to die and you can't be afraid to live your life. And he did it, and through him it's taught me to do it. And you just have to get out there and do something with it. That's why we're here.

BALDWIN: So they wouldn't let you enlist. You said, no problem. I'll go over there as a civilian contractor. There are pictures of you climbing in this Bradley. Remind us, this is how your son died. What was it that you were seeking? What did you want to see while doing that?

WEST: Well, I didn't expect that. Understanding someone's death is to completely understand it, and once you understand it, you can accept it. Knowing that he died in a Bradley is one thing, but being in it and seeing it and feeling it is a total different experience. And it let me feel what he felt right up to the moment of his death.

He was on a rescue mission. He volunteered for this mission. He was due home in two weeks but he knew that's what he needed to do. So getting to stand where he stood, they put me exactly where he was. They explained everything.

And the adrenaline of it is -- I have never been more proud of him, and to feel what he felt at the last moment doing what he loved to do, it just made -- it made it -- helps me honor him, not scared of the death and not angry and not sad. It makes you realize, OK, he can do this, so can I. I can do things too. You can live your life without being afraid.

BALDWIN: Amazing. And as we look at you, you're surrounded by these fellow soldiers. I mean, what was their reaction to you climbing in this Bradley to do this for your son?

WEST: They were great. They thought it was cool. It was like their mom, you know. They knew if their mom was there that they would dot same thing. There is a bond that you get. You do not know these people, but you are there. You are there together. You bond.

And they went way out of their way, and I never expected it. But I think them showing me what they do helped them as well, because they lost soldiers. They lost friends. And it also helps them ease their mind, that they are doing a good job and they are there doing -- protecting us.

BALDWIN: We salute them. We should be saluting them every single day.

WEST: Right.

BALDWIN: I know you visited the memorial that his fellow soldiers set up for him. I understand now you're back home. You want to talk to other families with their experience. I heard you wouldn't be adverse to going to Afghanistan. Is that correct?

WEST: It's kind of hard to do what I've done and then come home and sit behind a desk. So you've got to find the next adventure. You've got to keep going and find something that you're passionate about, and you have to make a difference. While you're here, you need to make a difference.

BALDWIN: Words to live by. Nanette West, thank you. And we also thank your son, Kile, as well.

WEST: Thank you very much.

BALDWIN: We're back in 90 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: Time now for the Help Desk where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this is Jack Otter, the executive editor of CBSMoneyWatch.com, Donna Rosato, senior editor at "Money" Magazine. Thank you both for being here. Donna, your question comes from Monique. Monique is a 58-year-old widow. She was married for 10 years. She wants to know if she remarries, will she lose the right to her late husband's Social Security benefits.

DONNA ROSATO, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY" MAGAZINE: This is an interesting one. She will not lose her rights, but she can't remarry until after age 60. So if she has someone in mind, they might want to have a long engagement. It is true if you're divorced you have to wait until at least 10 years to collect but that's not true of a widow.

The other thing to keep in mind, whoever she marries, check how much Social Security that person may get and weigh that against what she might have gotten from her previous husband and see what may be higher.

HARLOW: Good advice.

Jack, your question comes from Min in California. Min writes "Are there any tax advantages to investing my 401(k) contribution in my own company's stock?"

JACK OTTER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CBSMONEYWATCH.COM: There is no tax advantage, there is a huge financial investing disadvantage that we'll talk about. But anything within a 401(k) is all taxed the same as ordinary income when you take it out.

But the problem with investing in company stock is your financial present and future is hitched to your company. Everyone thinks their company is great and there will be no problems, but, who knows? There could be a stumble down the road and you could lose your job and if your retirement savings are invested, you could lose both your job and retirement savings. So no more than five percent in company stock. And really is there any reason to be in company stock? Answer that question carefully. Generally I would say no. Diversify away. Your fortunes are already hitched to your company.

HARLOW: All right, thank you guys so much. If you have a question you want answered send us an e-mail any time to CNN help desk at CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A couple minutes away from "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer. So let's bring him in and see what he has coming up next. I must while I've been on the air I've been checking my e-mail and seeing you have two huge, huge interviews tomorrow, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich. Congrats.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": I know. When it rains it pours. We've been asking for both of them and all of a sudden their both going to be here tomorrow. Some of the other Republican candidates, almost all of them will be in Washington tomorrow. So we've asked for them to come into the "THE SITUATION ROOM." We've got an interview tomorrow. We'll do an interview with both Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. Obviously if Mitt Romney or any other candidates want to join us --

BALDWIN: Come on by.

BLITZER: Guess who we're going to interview on Thursday? I know he's a huge fan of yours, but just guess.

BALDWIN: Within CNN or outside of?

BLITZER: No outside of CNN. We're going to interview Thursday in New York Donald Trump.

BALDWIN: Donald Trump.

BLITZER: I'm going to give him tips on how to be a moderator for a Republican presidential debate.

BALDWIN: This month, right?

BLITZER: The end of the month he's going to Iowa to do the Republican candidates. I've done two debates myself, so maybe he'll ask me for advice. I'll tell him it's all about the candidates, not necessarily about the moderator.

BALDWIN: And grow a beard because you pull it off so well.

BLITZER: Maybe even grow a beard.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Thanks so much. We'll see you in a couple of minutes there on your show.

In the meantime, all the world is waiting for you, Wonder Woman, and so is pretty prominent U.S. senator. We'll tell you which lawmaker paid a handsome price for a date with the legendary super hero.

And he's calling it an early Christmas present, a peppered, patchy blanket growing on his face. Speaking of beards, Joe Johns has it all in today's Political Pop.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Before there was this Wonder Woman, the cartoon super hero, there was this Wonder Woman. The famous Wonder Woman series from the '70s and that actress right there, she has a date with a senator, sort of. Joe Johns is here with the Political Pop today. I tell you, as a kid, I loved Wonder Woman. I might have spun around a playground or two. But we're talking about a certain senator from Massachusetts, aren't we?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: I couldn't stop watching it either.

BALDWIN: Amazing.

JOHNS: Right. Frankly, around Washington, D.C. we always have these auctions where interesting people if they pony up the right amount of money they'll get some face time with just about anybody. So Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts, a Republican, paid $1,000 at a charity auction to have a sit-down meeting with Linda Carter, star of Wonder Woman. He won this at the D.C.'s funniest celebrity charity event after bidding that $1,000. It's supposed to go to Suzanne G. Komen for the cure, but it doesn't sound like this will be a date or anything. Apparently Senator Brown is bringing both his wife and one of his daughters.

By the way, you have to say, Senator Brown is in what appears to be a very tight race for reelection in Massachusetts, going up against Professor Elizabeth Warren. So maybe he'll also be able to get a few tips in his race.

BALDWIN: From Wonder Woman, very funny.

Let's talk about another senator, Tom Coburn, Oklahoma. There's an entire twitter account devoted to his on again, of again beard. Why?

JOHNS: Right, Senator Coburn gets a whole lot of attention on Capitol Hill for one thing. He's a medical doctor. He's also one of the biggest budget cutters in Congress. He's from Oklahoma. But one thing he is not cutting these days is the hair on his face. And it's actually not the first time he's grown a beard. People pay so much attention to his facial hair that someone has gone to set up a twitter account for Tom Coburn's beard. Yesterday the beard tweeted that last week the world received an early Christmas present, a peppered and patchy blanket on Tom's face.

And there was one tweet earlier this year when the beard mentioned that president Obama had noticed Senator Coburn had shaved the beard. This was before the state of the union address. It turns out we have some sound from that encounter between the president and Senator Coburn. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You shaved the beard, huh? It was looking a little scruffy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Very quick and quiet, but you could hear it.

JOHNS: Usually the sound bites are very quick. Sometimes they are hard to hear. Perhaps we have to put up subtitles.

BALDWIN: Can we give a shout-out to Jessica King, our associate producer on the show who somehow remembered that President Obama at the state of the union passed by Tom Coburn and remembered the whisper. We've got good people working on this team.

JOHNS: You have to give kudos to Jessica. She is our Political Pop producer and she watches for these things.

BALDWIN: She's looking for them each and every day. Joe Johns, thank you so much.

And speaking of this, let's go to Wolf Blitzer. He is standing by. Your "SITUATION ROOM" starts now.